Towards an understanding of the impact of micro- and macro-manifestations of religiosity on climate change risk perception: a cross-national study

TL;DR

This study explores how religion affects how people in 28 countries view climate change risks, finding that religious practice and national religious context play key roles.

Contribution

The study introduces a cross-national analysis linking micro and macro levels of religiosity to climate change risk perception.

Findings

Regular religious service attendance is linked to lower climate change risk perception.

Predominantly Protestant countries show lower risk perception than those with Eastern religions.

Religious effects on risk perception are stronger in lower-income countries.

Abstract

This study examines how religion shapes climate change risk perception at individual and national levels across 28 countries, addressing gaps in cross-national research on religiosity and environmental attitudes.

Using data from the ISSP Environment IV module (2023), we apply multilevel models to assess the effects of religious affiliation, religious practice, and national religious context, including majority religion, proportion of Christians, and national income.

Regular attendance at religious services is generally associated with lower climate change risk perception, while religious affiliation shows limited and country-specific effects. At the national level, predominantly Christian, especially Protestant, countries exhibit lower risk perception than Eastern-religious (Buddhism and Hinduism) majority countries. Cross-level interactions reveal an asymmetric role for religion based on national wealth, with religious affiliation influencing risk perception more significantly in lower-income countries.

The findings indicate that religiosity primarily influences risk perception through practice, while national religious contexts reflect enduring historical and institutional legacies. Evidence also indicates the effects of religiosity are, in part, contingent upon country-level material wealth.

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